Joyce Kennedy Beck, 63, of Kennewick and formerly of Elgin, died March 17 in Yuma, Ariz., in an ATV accident. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Building 4 of the Benton-Franklin County Fairgrounds just off East 10th Avenue in Kennewick.
Joyce was born June 1, 1944, to William and Mildred Kennedy in Portland. She grew up in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1962. She was married in January 1964 to Bill J. Beck of Hermiston. The couple moved to the Tri-Cities in 1969 where she worked for Ice Harbor Dam and the Social Security Administration as an administrative specialist. Her husband of 40 years, Bill, died in 2004.
Those who knew her say Joyce enjoyed life and participated in the Benton/Franklin County Fair Board Association, Red Hat Society and Cosmos Singles Group. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Kent and Steve of Kennewick; two grandchildren of Kennewick; aunt, Mina Burnett of Springfield; sister, Barbara Prince of Kamiah, Idaho; brothers, Dick Kennedy of Pendleton and David Kennedy and Rex Kennedy, both of Elgin; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 22, 2008
Submitted by Dixie Ricker